A Season Gone A Little Sideways for Ovechkin

By Damian Cox, Apr. 5, 2010 "A Season Gone A Little Sideways":

There was the magical period before the Olympics, a time when Alexander Ovechkin scored seven goals in three games against the Rangers, Thrashers and Penguins, when it appeared the Russian winger had put himself on a higher level than the rest of the NHL.

But then came the Olympics, and the disappointment of Mother Russia, and the crushing aftermath in which Ovechkin felt absolutely devastated, as though he'd let down his country.

Since then, he just hasn't been the same. With four goals in 14 games since returning from Vancouver, and only one multiple-goal game, Ovechkin has surrendered the scoring lead to Canuck centre Henrik Sedin, is in a dogfight with Sidney Crosby and Steve Stamkos for the Rocket Richard Trophy and has allowed others to become more prominent in the discussion over who should be named league MVP this season.

Happily for the Capitals captain and his team, the wins have kept coming. R.J. Umberger may not appreciate the way in which Washington and head coach Bruce Boudreau go about their business, but the Caps clinched their first-ever Presidents Trophy on the weekend and waved bye-bye to the rest of the Eastern Conference a long time ago.

But can they go deep into the post-season without Ovechkin finding his way out of his current funk?

Read more...

From Columbus Blue Jackets blog "Light the Lamp":

"The night the Caps came to town":

Washington Capitals, Semin, Green and Ovechkin waiting in the tunnel for pre-game.


Love him or hate him - he is the one and only Ovie.

The one and only indeed. Go, Ovie, score a hat-trick tonight!

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